Switch lock mechanism



Feb. 13, 1923. 1,444386. I Y. T. e. STILES. I

SWITCH LOCK MECHANISM.

FILED JULY 2, 1921. 2 SHEETSSHEET x.

INVENTOR 14/5 A TTORNEY Feb. 13, 1923. 1,444,986. T. G. STILES.

SWITCH LOCK MECHANISM.

FILED JULY|2,1921. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

" INVENTOR HIS ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 13, 1923.

was Site? eet .swrrcn Loon MECHANISM.

Application filed July 2, 1921. Serial No. 482,054.

To all whom it may concern v Be it known that I, THOMAS Gnonen STrLEs, a citizen of the United States, and

resident of Arlington, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch Lock Mechanism, of which the fol-- lowing is a specification.

This invention relates to switch mechanism and particularly to improvements in switch mechanismof the type forming the subject of Letters Patent No. 1,253,439 granted to me January 15, 1918;

The switch mechanism. oi my aforesaid patent comprises a front rod connecting the switch rails, a lock rod operatively connected with said front rod for movement therewith in the shifting of the rails, a locking plunger movable transversely to said lock rod and cooperative with notches therein positioned to eifect locking of the switch rails in their respective switching po sitions, and a guide or casing supporting the lock rod and locking plunger at their locking point and maintaining them in operative v relation.

In this switch mechanism, as in others of like character, there is no means to limit the interlockingv movements of the locking plunger, so that it some times happens that the plunger becomes withdrawn from its guide or casing, as, for instance, in the event of its being caughtby a brake beam or other part hanging from a car passing over the rails.

Because of this liability of the locking plunger becoming withdrawn from. its supporting guide or casing, and a consequent 1 interference with. the normal operationof 40 the switch locking mechanism, ithas been the object of my invention to provide a sim? ple and efficient means for defining the unlocking movement of the plunger and maintaining it in operative relation to the lock rod. This object I attain by the novel construction and combination of parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, in which Fig. 1 is a plan of a switch mechanism em bodying my present invention;

Fig. 2 a vertical transverse section of the same, the section being taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.,

Fig. 3 an enlarged plan of the switch lock mechanism;

Fig. 4 an end elevation of the same, look ing from the right in F igQZ, with the lock .rod removed 5 a vertical section through the longitudinal center of the same, showing the locking plunger withdrawn to its unlocking position; and Fig. 6 a bottom view ger removed from connection with its cooperating mechanism. 1 7

Similar reference characters indicate like of the locking plunparts in the several figures of the drawings. 7

Referring first to Fig. l, the reference numerals 3,3 designate a pair of stock rails, and 44 a pair of point-rails of a switch, the stock rails being supported on suitable ties 5, and braced by suitable rail-braces, suchas 6.

The points of the switch rails may be connected in any usual or suitable manner, the same ashere' shown being connected bya front rod f of thetype shown in my aforesaid patent, said rod being secured at its" ends to the'opposite switch'rails bysuitable I fastening means, such as the bolts and nuts 11 and 12.

Connected with this front rodby a suitable coupling 17 is a lock' rod'22ywhich'latter at its outer or locking end is sl-idably mounted in substantially usual manner on'a suitablebase 36, this base in turn being supported on a plate 37 secured to thetiesi f The outer end of the lock rod 22 is preferably flat or oblong in crossrsectionnud has relatively long loclriug'notches 31; the length of which may be varied by a suitable adjusting bar 32, theposition of which may be determined at one end by a" bolt and nut. 33 and 34-, and at the other end by suitable fastening and heck nuts. design nated generally by The manner in which this adjustment is obtained willbe clear by reference to Figs. 1,2 and 3. Into the notchesBl so formed isadapted to pass a locking plunger 79, which is mounted on the base 36 in substantially usual manner, a cover 38 being bolted to the base and forming therewith a casing inwhich the lock rod and its locking plunger are supported for movement in directions trans verse to each other as shown. I

With this construction, when the plunger is drawn backwardly to a position to release the lock rod, that is, to a position withdrawn from one of the notches 31 in I Preferably and as here shown they are pro.

After the switch. points have been adjusted, the plunger is then returnedto locking position within one of the locking notches plunger, the arrangement said slop surfaces being such as to permit of the plunger beingwithdrawn. a short distance from looking engagement with the lock rod, shown in Fig. 5, and a return movement of the plunger to looking position within one of i the notches in. the lock rod... as shown by.

dotted lines in. Figs. 3 and The stop surfaces ll and 42 on the pliuigei: lock may beprovided in any suitz-ible way.

vided by forming a longitudinal groove 4:3 in the under side of the plunger into which the stop stud 40 extends and the end walls of which provide the saidstop surfaces with which the stud 40 engages.

The top of the casing formed by the parts 36 and 38 is providedwith an inspectio. opening 50 which may be closed by a hinged cover 51. When the cover is thrown back it will be easy to see at a glance just what the condition of the lock is at the locking point and any undue wear that has taken place may be readily detected and suitable adjustment of the parts made.

What I claim is:

1.111 a switch mechanism, the ci'unbination with. a pair of switch rails, of switch locking means comprising a stationary sup porting, base located laterally beyond one side oi said rails, a look rod opcratively connected at one end with said rails and at its opposite end slidably mounted on said base and provided with locking means, a locking plunger slidably mounted on the base for longitudinal movement to and from.

a position cooperative with the locking means of the lock rod, and means limiting the longitudinal movement of the locking plunger relatively to the lock rod.

2. In a switch mechanism, the combi nation with a pair of switch rails, of switch locking meanscomprising a stationary supporting base locatedlaterally beyond one side of said rails a loclr rod opcratively connected. at one end'with said rails and at its opposite end slidably mounted onsaid base and provided with locking means. a v

locking plunger slidably mounted on base for longitudinal. movement to and from a position cooperative with the loc means of the lock rod said locking plunger being provided with a stop surfacc aml meansonthe base for engaging said stop surface on the locking: plunger to limit the longitudinal movement of the latter relatively to the lock rod.

3. ln a switch mechanism, the conibination. with a pair oi. switch rails. ol switch locking means comprsing a lock. rod op" eratively. connected with said rails a locl in 'olungoi" movable transversely to and ('0 operative with said look rod at the locking point, said locking plunger being provided with a longitudinal groove having end walls and a fixed stud entering said'groove inthe locking plunger and engaging the end walls thereotl to limit the movement of the plunger relatively to. the lock rod. c

4;. In a switch mechanism, the combination with a pair of switchrails ot'switch locking means comprising a lock rod opcratively connected with said rails for mo'vement therewith, a locking plunger movable transversely to and cooperative with said lock rod at the locking point, said locking the plunger being provided with a pair stop surfaces, and a lame plate havingsaid plunger shdablv mounted thereon and providcd with a fixed stud, for engaging the stop surfaces on the Dlllllg'fillfi limit the movcnient of the latter relatively to the lock rod.

Signed at New Yorln in the county New York, and State of New York, this.

29th day of June A. DL1921.

THOMAS snonon sr nss. 

